Most hearing loss is slight at first, and you may not even notice a change. In fact, it is normally friends and family who tip off somebody to their hearing problem. While hearing exams are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this important checkup, unlike regular eye exams that are often prioritized.
Clues You Might Need a Hearing Test
Throughout the day, there are many instances when you could miss certain things and especially not hear the same things as other people.
- Are you frequently asking people to repeat themselves?
- Are you finding yourself turning up the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to hear everybody at a loud restaurant?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disagreements?
These type of scenarios can happen on a daily basis and continue to impact relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Assessed On A Regular Basis
According to the standards supplied by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are recommended to have a hearing assessment every 10 years before reaching the age of 50. For adults aged 50 and above, it is recommended to have a hearing assessment every 3 years.
1. Family History
If your family members are experiencing hearing difficulties, it is a good idea to book a hearing examination with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can determine potential issues or areas for improvement.
There are sounds you might not be hearing and impairments that might require further evaluations or treatments.
3. Monitors Progress Over Time
Every fresh test will analyze recent data alongside previous tests. Certain adjustments take place slowly, and the tests will identify any changes that may not be obvious to you.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Issues
New tests monitor changes and how rapidly they are occurring, which can help diagnose and treat problems early, including a buildup of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Pinpoint Medical Conditions
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition including diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Treating the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could possibly reduce hearing loss.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
When a patient is without treatment, they can become depressed and fear social situations, encouraging seclusion and further depression. Seniors with hearing problems can have increased injuries when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that indicate danger. Additionally, research has revealed a connection between unaddressed hearing loss and an elevated risk of developing cognitive decline and experiencing falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
Maybe you have suspected you have a hearing loss. Now you have answers, including the understanding that hearing aids will improve not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.
Once your hearing loss is treated with the appropriate hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear more efficiently during discussions or work meetings, or simply listen to your child’s laughter or a family member’s voice.
Get in touch with us if you want to schedule a hearing test or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.